January 04

Sunday 04, 2004:

Spirit, a NASA Mars Rover, lands successfully on Mars at 04:35 UTC.

Monday 04, 1999:

Gunmen open fire on Shiite Muslims worshipping in an Islamabad mosque killing 16 people injuring 25.

Sunday 04, 1998:

Wilaya of Relizane massacres in Algeria; over 170 are killed in three remote villages.

Sunday 04, 1987:

An Amtrak train en route to Boston from Washington, DC collides with Conrail engines, killing 16.

Friday 04, 1974:

United States President Richard Nixon refuses to hand over materials subpoenaed by the Senate Watergate Committee.

Tuesday 04, 1972:

Rose Heilbron becomes the first woman judge to sit at the Old Bailey in London.

Wednesday 04, 1967:

Donald Campbell dies as his jet-powered Bluebird K7 crashes during an attempt to break the water speed record.

Monday 04, 1965:

United States President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaims his "Great Society" during his State of the Union address.

Thursday 04, 1962:

New York City introduces a train that operates without a crew on-board.

Sunday 04, 1959:

Luna 1 becomes the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon.

Saturday 04, 1958:

Sputnik 1 falls to Earth from its orbit (launched on October 4, 1957).

Friday 04, 1957:

After 69 years the last issue of Collier's Weekly magazine is published.

Thursday 04, 1951:

Korean War: Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul.

Sunday 04, 1948:

Burma gains its independence from the United Kingdom.

Tuesday 04, 1944:

World War II: The Battle of Monte Cassino begins.

Saturday 04, 1936:

Billboard magazine publishes its first pop music charts.

Thursday 04, 1912:

The Scout Association is incorporated throughout the British Commonwealth by Royal Charter.

Saturday 04, 1896:

Utah is admitted as the 45th U.S. state.

Sunday 04, 1885:

The first successful appendectomy is performed by Dr. William W. Grant on Mary Gartside.

Friday 04, 1884:

The Fabian Society is founded in London

Wednesday 04, 1854:

The McDonald Islands are discovered by Captain William McDonald aboard the Samarang.

Friday 04, 1850:

The first American ice-skating club is formed (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).

Monday 04, 1847:

Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the United States government.

Monday 04, 1762:

England declares war on Spain and Naples .

Monday 04, 1717:

The Netherlands, England and France sign the Triple Alliance.

Saturday 04, 1698:

Most of the Palace of Whitehall in London, the main residence of the English monarchs, is destroyed by fire.

Saturday 04, 1642:

English Civil War: King Charles I of England attacks Parliament .

Wednesday 04, 1493:

Christopher Columbus leaves the New World, ending his first journey .

Sunday 04, 871:

Ethelred of Wessex fights a Danish invasion army .

More on January, 04

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